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For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[e]

1 Do you rulers indeed speak justly?Do you judge people with equity?2 No, in your heart you devise injustice,and your hands mete out violence on the earth.

3 Even from birth the wicked go astray;from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.4 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,5 that will not heed the tune of the charmer,however skillful the enchanter may be.

6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.8 May they be like a slug that melts away as it moves along,like a stillborn child that never sees the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—whether they be green or dry—the wicked will be swept away.[f]10 The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.11 Then people will say,“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam.[h] When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him.

1 Deliver me from my enemies, O God;be my fortress against those who are attacking me.2 Deliver me from evildoersand save me from those who are after my blood.

3 See how they lie in wait for me!Fierce men conspire against mefor no offense or sin of mine, Lord.4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.Arise to help me; look on my plight!5 You, Lord God Almighty,you who are the God of Israel,rouse yourself to punish all the nations;show no mercy to wicked traitors.[i]

6 They return at evening,snarling like dogs,and prowl about the city.7 See what they spew from their mouths—the words from their lips are sharp as swords,and they think, “Who can hear us?”8 But you laugh at them, Lord;you scoff at all those nations.

9 You are my strength, I watch for you;you, God, are my fortress,10 my God on whom I can rely.

God will go before meand will let me gloat over those who slander me.11 But do not kill them, Lord our shield,[j]or my people will forget.In your might uproot themand bring them down.12 For the sins of their mouths,for the words of their lips,let them be caught in their pride.For the curses and lies they utter,13 consume them in your wrath,consume them till they are no more.Then it will be known to the ends of the earththat God rules over Jacob.

14 They return at evening,snarling like dogs,and prowl about the city.15 They wander about for foodand howl if not satisfied.16 But I will sing of your strength,in the morning I will sing of your love;for you are my fortress,my refuge in times of trouble.

17 You are my strength, I sing praise to you;you, God, are my fortress,my God on whom I can rely.

Abraham Justified by Faith

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter?2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation.5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.6 David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 “Blessed are thosewhose transgressions are forgiven,whose sins are covered.8 Blessed is the onewhose sin the Lord will never count against them.”[b]

9 Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham’s faith was credited to him as righteousness.10 Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before!11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them.12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”[c] He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d]19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.